Rail brace



July 18, 1950 G. s. vlcKRoY RAIL vBRCE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l0, 1945 l, L x wm A@ W 5/ U V\WL my, W w W N MQW July 18, 1950 G. S. VICKROY RAIL BRACE Filed Aug. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.' @0,965 5, V/K/QK BWM Md@ Patented July 18, 195,0l

RAIL BRACE George S. Vickroy, Johnstown, Pa., assignor to Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, a corporavtion of New Jersey Application August 10, 1945, Serial No. 610,029

2 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable rail braces and more particularly to rail braces embodying a wedge member for eiiecting adjustment thereof.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved rail brace which is simple and rugged in design and dependable in use.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent from the specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved rail brace;

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line II-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an end view of the cover member.

The letter A designates a tie plate on the inner end of which there is disposed a railway rail R. The position of the rail R on the tie plate is determined by an adjustable brace B due to its being engaged by a wedge member D which slidably engages a stop member or abutment E riveted or otherwise secured to the tie plate A adjacent the outer end thereof. Bolts 2 extend upwardly from the tie plate to receive the brace B and a lockingcover member C which have elongated holes 4 and 5, respectively, therein to permit relative movement between such members and the tie plate when the brace is adjusted by the wedge D.

Brace B has upstanding side flanges 6 and an overhanging cover portion 8 which extends outwardly to stop E when the brace is in its outermost position. A vertically extending aperture IU is provided in the brace with the outer edge thereof slightly beyond the inner edge of the overhanging cover 8 and the inner side extending to a boss I2 on the under side of the brace B.

Wedge D has vertically extending serrations I4 across the full thickness thereof throughout the mid-portion of its length along the edge which engages the brace B.

The locking cover C which'rests on the brace B and is secured thereon by bolts 2 has a down- Wardly extending stud I6 which has serrations I8 matching the serrations I4 and adapted to engage the full width thereof. The inner side of the stud member engages the boss I2. An overhanging lip 20 extends outwardly over the cover portion 8.

In use, with the brace B loosely placed on the tie plate A over the bolts 2, the wedge D is driven into the opening between the brace and abut- (Cl. 23S-292) ment E the desired distance to properly position the rail R.. The locking cover C is then placed on the bolts 2 with the stud I6 extending into the aperture IU so that the serrations I8 thereon engage serrations I4 on the Wedge D, and the rear iace of the depending stud I6 engages the boss I2. Nuts on the bolts 2 are then tightened and the brace will hold the rail in properly adjusted position.

Even though the nuts are not properly tightened or become loosened due to vibration, it is seen that the locking member will still function to hold the wedge in the selected position since the serrations or slots thereon extend across the full thickness and are engaged completely thereacross by the serrations or ribs on the lockingcover stud or insert. Due to the size and weight or" the locking cover or insert and its engagement at-the inner side with the boss I2, engagement oi' the serrations or slots is securely maintained. Since the overhanging cover 8 extends outwardly toward the abutment E and the lip portion 20 of the cover extends over the aperture I0 and outwardly over the overhanging cover, the wedge and serrations or slots are protected so that readjustment thereof is not hampered by being clogged with dirt or the like.

While I have shown and described two speciiic embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable rail brace including a tie plate having an abutment extending thereacross, an adjustable brace member mounted on said tie plate and adapted to abut and position a rail disposed on said tie plate, said brace having an overhanging cover extending outwardly to said abutment, a wedge member disposed beneath said cover and engaging said abutment and said brace to adjust said brace, the edge of said wedge member abutting said brace being serrated, a vertically extending aperture in the mid-portion oi said brace, a downwardly extending boss under said brace inwardly of said aperture, means for securing said brace to said tie plate and for securing a locking member on said brace, said locking member comprising a plate member, a member below said plate disposed in said vertically extending aperture, serrations on said member, the inner side of said member engaging said boss and the serrations on the outer side engaging the serrations on said Wedge, said cover and said plate member overlying and covering the wedge and the serrated locking edges thereon.

2. An adjustable rail brace including a tie plate having an abutment extending thereacross, an adjustable brace member mounted on said tie plate and adapted to abut and position a rail disposed on said vtie plate', said brace' having an overhanging cover extending outwardly to' said abutment, a wedge member disposed beneath said 10 cover and engaging said abutment and said brace to adjust said brace, the edge of said wedge member abutting said brace being serrated, said serrations extending across the fullthickness of` said wedge, a vertically extending aperture in the mid-portion of said brace, a downwardly extending boss under said bracevinwardlyof said aperture, means for securing said brace to said tie plate and for securing a locking member on said brace, said locking member comprising a platemember, astud` depending therefrom and disposed inI said vertically extending aperture,V

serratin's on the outer side f the lower end of`4 said stud, the inner side of said stud engagingv said boss and serrations on the outer side engagng the full Width of the serrations on said.

wedge, said cover and said plate member overlying and covering the wedge and the serrated locking edges thereon. y K y GERGE S1. VICKROY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the l'ebf this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

